Coming Up Clutch

Vokoun Stops All Comers As Stillman Scores Game-winner

November 13, 2009|By Steve Gorten Staff Writer

BOSTON — When teammate Steven Reinprecht's shot hit the post, bounced off the back of Bruins goalie Tim Thomas' right leg and then off his blocker, Panthers' goalie Tomas Vokoun had the same reaction as just about every other person inside the Garden.

"Oh, my God, it's never going to go in," Vokoun thought to himself.

In the fourth round of the shootout, the puck finally crossed a goal line for the first time Thursday night. Cory Stillman scored against Thomas to give the Panthers a hard-fought 1-0 win on a night Vokoun recorded his third shutout in four games.

"I was relieved," said Vokoun, who made 40 saves.

"He deserved the two points tonight," coach Pete DeBoer said. "It was nice to get them for him."

After the second period, it seemed unimaginable the Panthers would even get to overtime.

They were outshot 19-1 in the period, with their season-low one shot on goal in period coming off Reinprecht's stick.

Their previous low this season was two shots in the second period Oct. 24 in Philadelphia.

"There are no words to describe the second period," DeBoer said, but then added, "I thought in the third we were the better team and had the better chances."

Said Stillman: "There was a lot said between the second and third period."

The Panthers doubled their shots from the first two periods combined as they outshot the Bruins 14-8 in the third.

Then in the shootout, Vokoun turned away Blake Wheeler, Patrice Bergeron, Zdeno Chara and Michael Ryder, setting up Stillman's game-winner in his first shootout attempt of the season.

The Panthers improved to 3-1 in shootouts.

"It cost us a playoff spot last year," DeBoer said. "This year it has given us an opportunity to keep our head above water early in the season until we find our team identity."